Racking apparatus for filling barrels.



' Patented Nov. 4, |902. 8.7M. RHUADS. RACKING APPARATUS FOR FILLING BARRELS.

v(Application. led Sept 10l 1901,)

` (No Model.)

xs Pirsns ca. murauwo.. WASHING-rom n'. c.

Unirse STATES:

PATENT @Erica SAMUEL M. RHOADS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR'OF ONE-HALF TO FRANK MCKERNAN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

RACKING APPARATUS FOR'FILLING BARRELS.

SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters :Patent No. i712,850, dated November 4, 1902.

Application filed September 10, 1901. Serial No. 74,922. (No model.)

1'0 LM whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL M. RHoADs, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia,State of Penn- Sylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Racking Apparatus for Filling Barrels, the., of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in` racking` apparatus for filling barrels, dac.; and it consist-s of novel means for supporting a iilling-tube and novel means for tightening the support in the bush.

It also consists of a novel construction of parts whereby when the filling-tube is withdrawn the bush may be closed by acork, plug, or other stopper. Y i

It furtherconsists of novel vents and valve mechanism, as will be hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Figures 1 and 2 represent vertical sections of a racking apparatus'for filling barrels, (Src. embodying my invention. Fig. 3 represents a top or plan view thereof. Fig. 4. represents a horizontal section on line at, Fig. l. Fig.y 5 represents a vertical section of a portion of the Valve mechanism adjacent'theretoin Fig., l on au enlarged scale. Fig. 6 represents ai section on liney g/,Fig l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a tappingbush which is adapted to receive the sleeve B, between-the lower portion of which andthe wallof said bush is the packing or gasket C, which is adapted to be compressed and form a tightjoint for said sleeve and bush by means of the rotatable collar D, which is-providedjwith an operative handle; D' and encircles'said' sleeve and bears against" a suitable washer- D, 4resting on said packing, it being noticed that'the portion of the sleeve above said collar has a shoulder E thereon, and the contiguous faces of said collar and shoulder are spiral in their nature, so that when the collar is rotated it rides downwardly on the spiral face of the shoulder E, and so tightens against the packing C, and thereby compresses the same,'it being also noticed that' the bottom of the sleeve B has a flange F, on which the packing C partly rests,

thus tightly closing the joint between the lower end of the sleeve and adjacent portion of the bush. For purposes of adjustment the sleeve is formed in sections which are connected by the screws G, as most plainly shown in Fig. l. The contiguous portions of the rotatable collar I) and sleeve B are Unthreaded, so that rusting of said parts is prevented, while the spiral faces of said collar and the shoulder E are relied upon to advance said collar and cause the compression of the packing or gasket C, as has been stated. On the sleeve is the head H, which has an opening therein for the passage therethrough of the filling-tube J, the latter also passing through the sleeve B into the barrel, hogshead, Sac., to be filled.

Supported on, formed, or otherwise secured `to the head H is the rotatable plate K, on

which is mounted the sleeve L and the tube M, said .sleeve L being adapted to have the filling-tube .I pass through the same, the tube M containing the plunger N, the lower portionrof said tube M having anopening P in its side for the introduction of the cork or stopper Q for purposes to be hereinafter described. The sleeve L. andthe tube M are arranged eccentrically on the'plate K. (See Fig.; 3.) ,v

R-designates 'a lever which is connected with` the plunger N and adapted-.to pass through-thevertical slots S in the tube M,

.whereby said lever is permitted to ascend and -descendin the operation of the plunger N.

The lever R in order to have along ,sweep is connected by the linke R'fwith ,thearm R2,

,the latter being secured to the rotatable plate K, so as to follow the motions thereof, it beingnoticed that the headH is providedwith 9o a handle K', whereby the apparatus kmay be conveniently carried, while the plate K, with .the parts superimposed thereon, may be rotated by proper manipulation of the'lever R.

In order to restore the plunger N, and with it the lever R, to its normal position, I employ the spring M', which bears against the top of the tube M and the shoulder M2 at the top of the upward extension M3 of said plunger. In order to lock the lever R, the tube has connected with awall of one of the slots S the ratchet-plate S', with a tooth of which ICO the adjacent edge of the lever is adapted to engage.

During the lilling operation the parts are as shown in Fig. l, it being noticed that the diameter of the tube J is such that a space Z5 exists between said tube and the surrounding sleeves and bush for the exit of air from the barrel, hogshead, tbc. After said operation the tube J is withdrawn andthe plate K rotated, whereby the tube M is carried around and placed in communication with the sleeve B, so that the cork or stopper Q may be introduced through the base of the tube M into the opening in the plate K and top of the sleeve B and then driven into the bush A b'y the plunger N, the parts being shown in Fig. 2 thus closing the bush.

Connected with the sleeve I3 is the branch pipe T, which is provided with the valve U. Connected with the sleeve L is the branch pipe V, with which communicates the cylinder or vessel lV, in which are the ball valves or floats X X', one placed above the other,

the lower float having its seat X2 at the basel of said vessel XV, whose side wall is made of glass or other suitable transparent material, so that the interior of the same maybe readily seen, said base having a nipple connection with the said branch pipe V and being thereby supported. Within the vessel IV is the collar Y, which is sustained on the hase of said vessel, said collar being open at top and bottom and having ports Y in its side, said collar being cast or otherwise firmly secured to said base and having its upper portion slightly enlarged. In the seat X2 is a port d, which forms a communication between said nipple connection and the interior of said collar Y, and consequently with the interior of the vessel WV. In said seat X"2 are also the ports b, which form a comm unication between said nipple connection and a space or passage intermediate of the collar Y and the side wall of the vessel W and communicating with the ports Y' of said collar. The transparent side of the vessel W is inclosed in a guard of openwork, on the top of which is a cap from which rises the casing X3, in which is a sleeve X4, the latter having therein the vertical ports Z3.

Rising from the oat X is the stem Z, which passes through the central opening in the sleeve X1 and carries at its upper end the Valve Z', which has a seat Z2 in the portion of the casing X3 above said valve. The upper end of the casing X3 has an outlet Z4.

In the act of filling the barrel or hogshead the beer or other liquid is forced through the tube J into the interior of the barrel, whereupon the air and the primary froth pass upwardly through the passage Z5, around the eX- terior of the tube J, and flows thence through the passage V and the port or ports l), around the exterior of the collar Y, and reaching the port Y in the collar Y they enter the same as a rst exit in their upward passage and are directed by the same into the vessel W and rising therein ow through the casing X3 and the ports Z3 and so reach the outlet Z4, by which they are directed elsewhere, the lightness of the air and froth not being sucient to raise float X from its seat X2. As the barrel becomes filled with the beer itself or the body of the beer, the latter will rise to the passages Z5 and V', and the pressure thereby created by the beer as ascending will act through the port o on the lower float X and raise the latter and the upper float X', thus raising the valve Z', which closes tightly against its seat Z2, whereupon it will be seen that beer cannot escape through the passage Z4 tothe air-tank. (Not shown.) Packing is interposed between the wall of the vessel W and the casing above the same for forming a tight joint between said parts. As the closing of the valve Z indicates that the cask or barrel is now filled with beer, the tube J is withdrawn and the plate K rotated, as has been above explained, whereby the tube M is placed in alinement with the sleeve B, so that the stopper Q can be driven into the bush A by the plunger N, as has already been explained.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that by my invention I have provided a novel construction of apparatus which can be readily applied to or disconnected from the barrel, cask, or hogshead for the purposes required and that I have made provision for preventing the beerfroin passing beyond the desired point and that I have also provided a simple and novel means for permitting the air which is expelled from the Cask in the act of filling the latter to escape according to requirements.

The apparatus is simple and not liable to get out of order and is readily operated by unskilled labor.

It will be apparent that slight changes may be made by those skilled in the art which will come within the scope of my invention, and I do not, therefore, desire to be limited in every instance-to the exact construction herein shown and described.

Having thus described myinvention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A tapping bush having a horizontal shoulder in the interior thereof, a sleeve in said bush, packing interposed between the inner wall of said bush and the exterior of said sleeve,a rotatable collar encircling said sleeve and bearing against said packing, and a stationary shoulder on said sleeve above said collar,l the contiguous faces of said shoulder and collar being spiral, the lower end of said sleeve having a flange which is seated on said shoulder and has said packing seated thereon.

2. In an apparatus of the character stated, a sleeve, a stationary head thereon, a rotatable plate mounted on said head, a sleeve on said rotatable plate adapted to be placed in communication with that of the stationary head, and atube on said plate, also adapted to be placed in communication with the sleeve of IOO IIO

the stationary head, said tube having a stopper-receiver opening in its side, a plunger in said tube, and a lever mounted on said rotatable plate and connected with said plunger.

3. In an apparatus of the character stated, a sleeve, a stationary head thereon, a rotatable plate mounted on said head, a sleeve on said rotatable plate, adapted to be placed in communication with that of the stationary head, and a tube on said plate, the same having a stopper-receiving opening in its side, a plunger in said tube, and a lever mounted on said rotatable plate and connected with said plunger, said tube having a vertical slot therein for the play of said lever and a locking device for said lever in a wall of said slot.

4. In an apparatusot the character stated, a vessel, a conveying-pipe thereon, a collar with a valve seated in said vessel, a port in said seat, and a port between said seat and the adjacent portion ot said vessel, said collar having a port in its side forming a communication for the second-named port with the interior of said Vessel, and said conveyingpipe, a fioat on said seat, a casing above said vessel, an auxiliary valve on the stem of said float, a sleeve in the casing, with a port therein, and a seat for said auxiliary valve in the upper portion of said casing.

5. In an apparatus of the characterstated, a vessel, a seat on the base thereof, a por'tin said seat, an auxiliary port in said seat, a collar Within said vessel and having a vport in its side, and a float on said seat, a passage existing between said collar and the side of said vessel, the same forming a communication between said auxiliary port and the port of said collar, in combination with a valve connected with the stem of said float anda seat for said valve in a casing above said vessel,

6. In a racking apparatus, a plate suitably supported and having a passage therethrough, a stoppering device mounted on said plate, a device for permitting the escape of air from the barrel during the act of filling the same and consisting of a branch having a passage communicating with a collar, a valve-seat in the lower portion of said collar, a-vessel in closing said collar and being in communication with said branch independent of said valve-seat, a float controlling said Valve-seat, ports around said valve-seat for permitting the escape of air, a second iioat supported on the first-mentioned float, a casing above said collar, a valve in said casing connected with the second-named float, a seat in said casing for said valve, and ports around said valve and-below said seat, whereby the escape of froth and air from the barrel during the act of lling the latter is permitted, but the passage of the body of the beer beyond said upper valve-seat is prevented.

7. In a racking apparatus, a device for permitting the escape ot' air from the cask during the act of lling the latter, the same consisting of a branch in communication with the interior of the barrel, a vessel supported on said branch and having a transparentexterior shell, a plurality of floats contained within said vessel, an apertured collar surrounding said floats, a valve-seat below said collar for the lower iioat, a casing above said vessel, a valve in said casing connected with the stem of the upper ioat, ports around said valve, a seat for said valve above the latter, and a discharge-passage on said casing above said valve-seat.

SAMUEL M. RHOADS, Witnesses:

OTTo MENGER, W. S. HERBERT. 

